A free afternoon today so up at Fly Flatts for 1330 hrs with 2 hours to search the area before lights out. A decent afternoon with dark clouds 90% cloud cover and a light S>3 with some mist clouds shrouding the top of the turbines.
As soon as I got out of the car I had a bad feeling with empty skies and water which is the way it remained nearly throughout the watch.
A walk to the end of the west bank and back plus below the bank checking the feeding area and track towards Castle Carr produced a few Mallard, Red Grouse and Pheasants with not a movement in the sky at all. I,ll never work out what makes these birds tick, how can one day be busy and the next absolutely dead even with the same weather conditions.
The boatyard also failed to produce anything and it was 15 minutes of the last fading light that saved the day with 4 Kestrels appearing along the top road and quarry and 3 Short Eared Owls working the distant moor disappearing from view into the darkness towards the western ridge. No birds but an enjoyable 2 hours being able to saunter as opposed to my usual dash to beat the fading light.
The Redpoll flock around the west bank at Ogden is now up to around 25 birds. Thanks for that report goes to Mark Murray.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2025).